Struggling to fall asleep is something that many people struggle with. Luckily an expert has shared an unusual hack that might get you nodding off in no time at all
Whether you’re carrying some stress from your 9 to 5 or your routine is jam-packed from dawn to dusk, there’s a whole host of reasons why getting enough sleep can seem impossible. While we know that getting enough sleep is crucial for our health and well-being, getting some shut eye is often easier said than done.
From wanting to spend extra time getting the latest boxset finished to spending a little too much time on social media, there’s lots of factors that can get in the way of our sleep.
Sometimes we may even try to drift off to the land of nod but issues such as stress or anxiety can stop us from ever getting there, leaving us tossing and turning for what can seem like hours.
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Although having a sleepless night can feel isolating, and being unable to sleep can leave you feeling like you’re the only person on Earth up in the early hours, struggling to sleep is more common than you may think.
According to a survey from Get Laid Beds (getlaidbeds.co.uk), a fifth of people in the UK take between two to three hours to fall asleep once they’re in bed – which is a whole lot of tossing and turning.
However, research showed that certain pre-bed practices could make falling asleep a lot easier, and could allow you to wake feeling refreshed, rather than groggy and desperately needing to snooze your alarm.
One unusual method to sleep better is by forcing yourself to stay awake, which sounds counterproductive, right? Dr Daisy Mae, Sleep Expert from Get Laid Beds said: “There is actually a phrase to describe this, which is ‘paradoxical intention’, which is where you challenge yourself to stay awake, which tricks the mind into falling asleep.”
She recommended laying in bed, keeping your eyes open and telling yourself ‘Do not fall asleep’, or ‘I will not fall asleep’.
“Your eye muscles should tire quickly, and hopefully you’ll be asleep in no time”, she shared.
Other methods the doctor recommends are going through your day – but in reverse order. She said it “will keep your mind clear of any worries.”
The 4-7-8 breathing method could also work if you’re struggling to nod off. You need to put your tongue to the roof of your mouth for the whole exercise, just behind your teeth, then you exhale through your mouth.
“Then, close your mouth and inhale through your nose for four seconds. Then, hold your breath for seven seconds”, she recommended.
The eight in the 4-7-8 method requires you to exhale through your mouth, and make another weird sound, but this time for eight seconds, according to the expert. You’re supposed to repeat it until you naturally fall asleep.
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